# US 7,613,288 B1 · Method for handling incoming calls directed to a virtual communication service subscriber via a guest PBX

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- Number: US 7,613,288 B1
- Document ID: US7613288B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 10/889,325
- Filed: 2004-07-12
- Granted: 2009-11-03
- Earliest claimed: 2001-04-05
- Assignees: AT&T Corp.
- Inventors: Yihsiu Chen; Mark Jeffrey Foladare; Shelley B. Goldman; Shaoqing Q. Wang; Roy Philip Weber; Robert S. Westrich; Aleksandr Zelezniak
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7613288B1

## CPC

- H04M 3/42323: {PBX's with CTI arrangements}
- H04M 1/2472: {with programmable function keys}
- H04M 3/42229: {Personal communication services, i.e. services related to one subscriber independent of his terminal and/or location (diverting calls from one subscriber to another subscriber, i.e. two different subscriptions H04M3/54; selecting arrangements in intelligent networks H04Q3/005)}
- H04M 1/2535: {adapted for voice communication over an Internet Protocol [IP] network (Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network equipment and services H04M7/006; implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16)}
- H04M 3/42314: {in private branch exchanges}
- H04M 3/4234: {Remote access to features of PBX or home telephone systems-teleworking in a PBX}
- H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08)

## Abstract

A method of handling incoming calls directed to a virtual communication subscriber is disclosed. An incoming call intended for the virtual communication subscriber is received at a first communication device. A call is placed to a second communication device using contact information provided by the virtual communication subscriber. Extension information is provided to a guest PBX when the call is answered which corresponds to a communication line associated with the second communication device. Upon connection to the second communication device, the incoming call is bridged with the call placed to the second communication device.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A virtual communication system for handling incoming calls directed to a virtual communication subscriber, the virtual communication subscriber being associated with a fixed communication device connected to a host Private Branch Exchange (PBX), the virtual communication subscriber being at a remote location and being connected to a communication network via a guest PBX not affiliated with the host PBX, the virtual communication system comprising:
a switch controller connected to a computer network for receiving contact information relating to the guest PBX; and further connected to the host PBX for controlling a call directed to the fixed communication device connected to the host PBX by directing the call to the guest PBX using the contact information; and
an integrated voice response (IVR) system connected to the switch controller for use in directing the call to the virtual communication subscriber via the guest PBX by providing at least a portion of the contact information to the guest PBX as speech.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The virtual communications system of claim 1, further comprising a Web server connected to the switch controller, the Web server being configured to receive from the subscriber the contact information.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The virtual communication system of claim 2, wherein the Web server is configured to authenticate the subscriber.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The virtual communications system of claim 2, wherein the Web server transmits a soft phone user interface providing PBX functionality.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The virtual communications system of claim 1, wherein the contact information includes a reach telephone number and the switch controller dials the reach telephone number to direct the call to the guest PBX.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The virtual communications system of claim 1, wherein contact information includes extension information for a communication device associated with the virtual communication subscriber, and the IVR provides the extension information as speech.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The virtual communications system of claim 6, wherein the extension information includes the subscriber's name.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The virtual communications system of claim 6, wherein the extension information includes an extension number associated with the subscriber.

### Claim 9 (depends on 6)

The virtual communications system of claim 6, wherein the extension information includes a room number associated with the subscriber.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The virtual communications system of claim 1, wherein the IVR comprises a text-to-speech converter and the portion of the contact information provided by the IVR as speech is received as text.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The virtual communications system of claim 1, further comprising a database for storing the contact information for retrieval by the switch controller.

### Claim 12

A virtual communication system for handling incoming calls directed to a fixed address of a virtual communication subscriber, the virtual communication subscriber being connected to a communication network via a remote guest PBX, the virtual communication system comprising:
a switch controller connected to a network for receiving contact information relating to the guest PBX; and further connected to the communication network for receiving a call directed to the fixed address and directing the call to the guest PBX using the contact information; and
an integrated voice response (IVR) system connected to the switch controller for use in directing the call to the virtual communication subscriber via the guest PBX by providing at least a portion of the contact information to the guest PBX as speech.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The virtual communications system of claim 12, further comprising a Web server connected to the switch controller, the Web server being configured to receive from the subscriber the contact information.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The virtual communication system of claim 13, wherein the Web server is configured to authenticate the subscriber.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The virtual communications system of claim 13, wherein the Web server transmits a soft phone user interface providing PBX functionality.

### Claim 16 (depends on 12)

The virtual communications system of claim 12, wherein the contact information includes a reach telephone number and the switch controller dials the reach telephone number to direct the call to the guest PBX.

### Claim 17 (depends on 12)

The virtual communications system of claim 12, wherein contact information includes extension information for a communication device associated with the virtual communication subscriber, and the IVR provides the extension information as speech.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The virtual communications system of claim 17, wherein the extension information includes the subscriber's name.

### Claim 19 (depends on 17)

The virtual communications system of claim 17, wherein the extension information includes an extension number associated with the subscriber.

### Claim 20 (depends on 17)

The virtual communications system of claim 17, wherein the extension information includes a room number associated with the subscriber.

### Claim 21 (depends on 12)

The virtual communications system of claim 12, wherein the IVR comprises a text-to-speech converter and the portion of the contact information provided by the IVR as speech is received as text.

### Claim 22 (depends on 12)

The virtual communications system of claim 12, further comprising a database for storing the contact information for retrieval by the switch controller.